Umbrella cockatoo
The White cockatoo (Cacatua alba) is a medium-sized all-white cockatoo endemic to tropical rainforest on islands of Indonesia. This species is also known as the Umbrella bird due to its backward-bending, broad crest, which opens up like an umbrella and fans out.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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Island endemicIsland endemic animals are found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island. Animals or organisms that are indigenous to a place ar...
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NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withSn
Snow WhiteThe male White cockatoo usually has a broader head and a bigger beak than the female. They have brown or black eyes and a dark grey beak. When mature some female white cockatoos can have reddish/brown irises, while the irises of the adult male are dark brown or black. The feathers of the White cockatoo are mostly white. However, both upper and lower surfaces of the inner half of the trailing edge of the large wing feathers are a yellow color. The yellow color on the underside of the wings is most notable because the yellow portion of the upper surface of the feather is covered by the white of the feather immediately medial (nearer to the body) and above. Similarly, areas of larger tail feathers that are covered by other tail feathers – and the innermost covered areas of the larger crest feathers – are yellow. Short white feathers grow from and closely cover the upper legs. The feathers of this species and others create a powder similar to talcum powder that easily transfers to clothing. In common with other cockatoos and parrots, the White cockatoo has zygodactyl feet with two toes facing forward and two facings backward, which enable it to grasp objects with one foot while standing on the other, for feeding and manipulation.
The White cockatoo is a native of the Indonesian islands of Northern and Central Moluccas (aka Maluku Islands), specifically, the islands of Bacan, Kasiruta, Halmahera, Tidore, Ternate, and Mandioli. They also live on the islands of Obi and Bisa, but it is thought that these birds are escaped pets. White cockatoos inhabit wooded areas and are found in open woodland and forests, mangroves, swamps, and agricultural areas. They are especially common around the edges of clearings and rivers. Most of their time is spent in the tree canopy.
White cockatoos typically occur singly, in pairs or small groups, and sometimes in flocks numbering up to fifteen. They gather in the afternoon in groups of as many as fifty birds. Although these birds are social, aside from mating pairs, they usually do not establish close bonds with each other. They are diurnal birds and are typically sedentary, although some can be nomadic, wandering in search of food. White cockatoos communicate with their mates by means of a variety of noises and gestures. They scratch one another during mating rituals. They have been seen banging pieces of wood on logs and trees to warn other birds that their territory belongs to them. White cockatoos use loud vocalizations, sometimes for communication. They make a loud, grating scream or screech and they may hiss when alarmed.
White cockatoos are herbivores (frugivores, granivores) and typically eat various nuts, seeds, and fruits, such as durian, papaya, langsat, and rambutan. They also supplement their diet with skinks, and large insects, such as crickets.
White cockatoos are monogamous, a mating pair staying together for life. In the mating season, males strut and fan their crests to attract a female. The mating season is usually from December to March. Pairs leave their flock to seek a place to nest in a tree. They typically build a nest in a hollow of a very large, tall tree. The female lays two eggs, sometimes three. Males and females share the incubating of the eggs, which usually lasts 30 days. The parents typically raise only one chick. If the first one that hatches is healthy, they raise that one. If the chick is unhealthy or malformed, they raise the second one. Chicks learn to fly when they are 3 months old but still depend on their parents for a further 2 to 3 weeks. When a chick is capable of caring for itself, the family rejoins the flock. White cockatoos are reproductively mature at 6 years of age.
The greatest threat to White cockatoos in the wild is illegal trapping for trading in cage birds. Habitat loss and hunting are further threats.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of White cockatoos is 43,000-183,000 individuals. However, this species' numbers are decreasing today and it is classified as endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.
White cockatoos have an important role in dispersing seeds - which is important for the evolution and ecology of plants. Furthermore, their nests may be used by other animals during the non-breeding season.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...